parmer



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. R. PARMER. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 595,293. Patented Dec. 14,1897.

: HVQH for, I 175/322 78.22717??? (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. FARMER.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No; 595,293. Patented Dec. 14,1897.

, (if/ 0 I YNE NDRRIS PETERS CC! PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

(No Model.)

& t e e h S F t e e h S 3 Y RA W ME RA R m .R m w E No. 595,293. Patented Dec. 14,1897.

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Unimnn Snares PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN It. FARMER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN-EIGIITIIS TO OTTO M. SCHMIDT, MICHAEL SOIIALLER, AND D. II. LOIISE, OF

SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAH LWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,293, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed March 2,1896. Serial No. 581,496. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN R. FARMER, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Itailways, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a means by which cars may be propelled by electricity without either using underground conduits or overhead trolley-wires. I accomplish this object by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I illustrates a side elevation of my device. Fig. II is a detail side view, partly in section, showing the means of hanging a contact-shoe onto the bracket carried by the axles. Fig. III is a vertical section taken along the line III III of Fig. V of the box placed below ground, showing the armature and magnet placed therein. Fig. IV is a sectional end view of the said box, taken along line IV IV of Fig. III. Fig. V is a sectional top view taken along line V V of Fig. III. Fig. VI is an end view of the section of the track, showing the feed-boxes and also showing in section pipes in which are placed feedwires, and the post elevated above ground containing switches and fuse-blocks. Fig. VII is an end View of the coil suspended from the car. Figs. VIII and IX are also end views, but of a modified form, showing two coils suspended from the car and two series of contact-plates placed in the boxes, which are situated in the ground.

1 and 1 are caraxles. Secured to the said axles bymeans of a suitable frame is abracket 2. The forward and rear ends of this bracket carry magnets and 3, and suspended from the frame carrying these magnets is a shoe or contact-plate This shoe is secured to said magnets by means of bolts '7 and 7, which pass through the bars 8 and S and about which are the coil-springs 9 and 9. The said bolts Tand 7 are capable of adjustment, thereby regulating the height of the shoe at from the ground, as shown in Fig. II.

5 and 5 are wires adapted to carry the current of electricity to the propelling apparatus of the car, and G and 6' are the wires carrying the current of electricity from the shoe 4 to the magnets 3 and Placed in the dust-proof and watertight casing 10 at suitable distances along the line and directly beneath the shoe 4 in the middle of the track is the following device:

In the convexed top 11 and exposed to the contact of the shoe 4 is a conductor 12, in magnetic circuit before armature is lifted and in electric circuit after armature is closed. This conductor is suitably supported in said casing and is capable of being placed in electrical connection with the main feed-wire 13.

' 14 is a wire coming from the switch-box 22.

15 is an armature placed beneath the conductor 12.

16 is a magnet around which the current passes and is adapted to keep the armature 15 elevated and in contact therewith. 14 is a wire leading from said magnet-coil to the conductor 12.

17 is a horn placed on the outside of boxes 10 and integral therewith, adapted to be influenced magnetically by the approaching of the magnet 3.

18 is a spring adapted to keep the armature 15 depressed.

10 is a contact-brush.

20 is the main conduit, in which are placed the main feed-wires, and 21 is a post placed partly above and partly beneath the ground and in communication with said conduit. 22 is a box at the upper and exposed end of said post containing a switch and a fuse-box.

23 are the rails of the track.

The device is operated as follows: The distance between the two boxes 10 and 10, containing the conductors 12 and 12, is, say, thirty feet. The shoe 4 is constructed, approximately, thirty-five feet long. One or the other of the conductors 12 and 12, being of a distance apart less than the length of the shoe 4:, is adapted to be in connection with said shoe 4; at all times. Assuming that the car is going toward the right, (see Fig. 1,) the approaching of the magnet 3 to the conductor 12 will first clean the said conductor 12 of any snow or dirt by means of the brush 24., carried in front of said magnet, and the influence of said magnet will first be exerted on the horn 17. The magnet 3 as it approaches and comes over contact 12 will magnetize the same, which in turn will influence the armature 15, raising it until its outer end will strike against the magnet 16. The conductorwire 14, being in connection with this armature, will thus supply a current of electricity through said wire 14, armature 15, magnet 16, wire 14, contact 12, through the shoe 4, and thence into the motor on the car. The current is thus carried to the car-motor for use, as desired, by means of the armature 15 being electrically and not mechanically raised to the magnet 16. The car, continuing on its way, will pass onto the next contact, and the shoe 4 will consequently be carried OK the conductor 12, and the magnet-coil is carried too far away to exercise any influence over the armature 15. Consequently said armature drops, being insulated from the conductor 12. The shoe 4, on account of the length being greater than the distance between the conductors 12 and 12, is always in a position to be in electrical connection with one of said conductors. The electric current taken therefrom may or may not be directed to the motor. The car is always ready to be started. A very slight current say enough for one lamp-is sufficient to keep the armature 15 raised, so as to insure a supply of electricity from the feed-wire 13.

In my preferred construction I use the track 23 to complete the circuit; but it is perfectly practical to use two sets of contacts and corresponding shoes to complete the circuit. This modified form is shown in Figs. VIII and IX.

If the car gets off the track and the shoe is consequently not in electrical connection with a conductor 12, then the current is again utilized by means of the switches,which are placed in boxes 22 at a distance, say, of one block apart, and the current from the main feedwire is by means of the switches in said box turned in through the Wire 14, which raises the armature 15 and again puts the shoe 4 in electrical connection with the conductor 12.

The working circuit is as follows: Current is supplied from the feed-wire or main conductor in conduit 20 through a branch wire 13, fuse 13", and conductor 14, which connects with the lever of armature 15 and circuit-closing arm 19. (See Fig. V.) Here there is a break until the car comes along and supplies magnetism to the conductor 12, when the armature 15 will be raised and the current can pass through to the magnet 16 and conductor 12. Should it be necessary to actuate these parts independently of magnetism on the car as, for instance, in case the magnetism gives out for any causea wire 14, connected with magnet 16, extends to the switch-box 22, where it may at any time be manually connected with the branch 13 from feed-wire 20, as is obvious from the drawings. Of course the wire 14 could be directly connected with the main conductor in the conduit 20; but inasmuch as a branch wire must necessarily be let into the switch-box, it is more convenient to connect wire 14 with said branch conductor 13 within the switch-box and. there 10- cate the fuse or other necessary devices.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric railway employing surface contacts and a bridging-shoe carried by the car having means for rendering it magnetic to operate a circuit-closer in the road-bed; the herein-described contact device having a magnetic contact exposed on the surface and having a projecting horn also of magnetic material and extending in the direction from which the car approaches, whereby a preliminary effect is produced on the circuit-closer, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a closed-conduit electric railway, automatic circuit-closin g and cu rrent-supplyin g devices along the road, constructed for operation substantially as explained and having their action initiated by a source of magnetic influence carried by the vehicle and magnetic horns or projections extending from said devices in the direction from which the vehicle comes, to receive the initial energy from said vehicle in advance of the arrival of the contact over the said devices, as explained.

J OIIN R. FARMER.

In presence of- STANLEY STONER, E. S. KNIGHT. 

